Image processing apparatus, method of controlling same, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

The present image processing apparatus stores setting information for whether to force setting of authentication information for each user. Furthermore, upon accepting a login request from a user, in a case where the stored setting information indicates forcing setting of authentication information, the image processing apparatus displays on a display unit a setting screen for setting authentication information to allow the user to set authentication information. In addition, the image processing apparatus executes login processing in accordance with a setting status of authentication information for the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/436,081, filed on Jun. 10, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/013,134, filed on Jun. 20, 2018, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,356,279, which claims the benefit of and priority toJapanese Patent Application No. 2017-126519, filed on Jun. 28, 2017,each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a methodof controlling the same, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

As an image processing apparatus, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral)provided with an image reading apparatus, a printing apparatus, and acommunication apparatus, and having image processing applications thatcan execute, for example, copying, printing, and transmission of ascanned image is known. Such an MFP is typically used by a plurality ofusers, and is provided with a user authentication function forperforming personalization by restricting functions used by eachauthenticated user. In other words, in an MFP, a password (a secretnumber) is set for each user of the MFP, and user authentication isperformed by requiring input of a password when a user logs in.

In addition, something referred to as a simple login function in whichan icon of a registered user is displayed on a menu screen or the likeof an MFP, and when the icon is selected, a customized login screen forthe user is displayed is known. With the simple login function, input ofa password is unnecessary, and it is possible to login to the MFP by auser pressing an icon associated with the user. Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2012-254618 proposes, as a function of the simple loginfunction, a method for automatically registering a user by using a jobowner name added in a print job subject to a print instruction from a PCfor a user ID for MFP user identification.

However, there is a problem as is recited below in the foregoingconventional technique. With the foregoing conventional technique, in alogin method for allowing a selected user to log into an informationprocessing apparatus after the user is selected from a user selectionscreen, control for uniformly requiring input of a password for eachuser to log in is not envisioned. In contrast, in a case where input ofa password is required, work for registering the password of each userbecomes necessary, and the necessity to require an operation that iscumbersome for all users arises. Consequently, in a case where input ofa password is required, providing a method for easily performingregistration work or the like is a problem to be solved. In addition,with the foregoing simple login function, while input of a password isrequired at a time of login for a user whose password is set, loginwithout requiring input of a password is permitted for a user whosepassword is not set. Consequently, there is room for improving securityin a current simple login function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention enables realization of a mechanism for improvingsecurity and reducing a user operation related to authentication bysuitably requesting setting of authentication information in accordancewith a setting status of the authentication information in userauthentication.

One aspect of the present invention provides an image processingapparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores setting information forwhether to force setting of authentication information, for apredetermined login method; a memory device that stores a set ofinstructions; and at least one processor that executes the set ofinstructions to: accept a login request from a user, upon accepting alogin request by the predetermined login method from a user for whichauthentication information is not set, in a case where the settinginformation stored in the storage unit indicates forcing setting of theauthentication information, display on a display unit a setting screenfor setting the authentication information to allow the user to set theauthentication information, and execute login processing in accordancewith a setting status of the authentication information for the user.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of controllingan image processing apparatus provided with a storage unit operable tostore setting information on whether to force setting of authenticationinformation, for a predetermined login method, the method comprising:accepting a login request from a user; upon accepting a login request bythe predetermined login method from a user for which authenticationinformation is not set, in a case where the setting information storedin the storage unit indicates forcing setting of the authenticationinformation, displaying on a display unit a setting screen for settingthe authentication information to allow the user to set theauthentication information; and executing login processing in accordancewith a setting status of the authentication information for the user.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causinga computer to execute each step in a method of controlling an imageprocessing apparatus provided with a storage unit operable to storesetting information on whether to force setting of authenticationinformation, for a predetermined login method, the method comprising:accepting a login request from a user; upon accepting a login request bythe predetermined login method from a user for which authenticationinformation is not set, in a case where the setting information storedin the storage unit indicates forcing setting of the authenticationinformation, displaying on a display unit a setting screen for settingthe authentication information to allow the user to set theauthentication information; and executing login processing in accordancewith a setting status of the authentication information for the user.

Further features of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram relating to an MFP 101according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of hardware ofthe MFP 101 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of software ofthe MFP 101 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of management of users in auser authentication unit 302 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a user authentication according to theembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a user authentication screenaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a DB of secret number andpassword operation settings according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a setting UI for the secretnumber according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a flow of an automatic creation of a userby a print job input according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a table for managingwhether registration is permitted without setting a secret number foreach registration agent according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a simplelogin function automatic registration according to the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that therelative arrangement of the components, the numerical expressions andnumerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scopeof the present invention unless it is specifically stated otherwise.

<System Configuration>

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.Firstly, description is give regarding a system configuration of thepresent embodiment with reference to FIG. 1. The present system isequipped with an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 101 which is oneexample of an image processing apparatus and a PC (Personal Computer)102 which is an external apparatus. These apparatuses are communicablyconnected with each other via a LAN 100. Note that, in the presentembodiment, there is a system configuration that includes one of each ofthe MFP 101 and the PC 102, but this is only one example, and there isno intent to limit the present invention. For example, a plurality ofMFPs or PCs may be included and another apparatus may also be included.

The MFP 101 includes a printer, a scanner, and the like, and is capableof printing, copying, scanning, and saving or transmitting a scanneddocument or the like. The PC 102 can access the MFP 101 and transmits aprint job to the MFP 101 via a corresponding driver.

<Hardware Arrangement>

Next, description is given regarding a hardware configuration of the MFP101 according to the present embodiment with reference to FIG. 2. TheMFP 101 is equipped with a control unit 200, an operation unit 209, aprinter 210, and a scanner 211. Also, the control unit 200 is equippedwith a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, an HDD 204, an operation unit I/F205, a printer I/F 206, a scanner I/F 207, and a network I/F 208.

The control unit 200 that includes the CPU 201 controls operations ofthe entire MFP 101. The CPU 201 performs various control such astransmission of an original scanning or image data by reading a controlprogram stored in the ROM 202. The RAM 203 is used as a temporarystorage area such as a main memory, a work area, or the like, of the CPU201. The HDD 204 stores image data, various programs, or the like.

The operation unit I/F 205 connects the operation unit 209 with thecontrol unit 200. The printer I/F 206 connects the printer 210 and thecontrol unit 200. Image data which should be printed by the printer 210is transferred from the control unit 200 via the printer I/F 206 and isprinted on a printing medium in the printer 210. The scanner I/F 207connects the scanner 211 and the control unit 200. The scanner 211generates image data by scanning an image on an original, and inputs theimage data into the control unit 200 via the scanner I/F 207. Thenetwork I/F 208 connects the control unit 200 (MFP 101) to the LAN 100.The network I/F 208 performs transmission/reception (for example,reception of a print job from the PC 102) of various information with anexternal apparatus over the LAN 100.

<Software Arrangement>

Next, description is given regarding a software configuration of the MFP101 according to the present embodiment with reference to FIG. 3. TheMFP 101 is equipped with a screen display management unit 301, the userauthentication unit 302, a copy 310, a print 311, and a scan andtransmit 312 as a software configuration.

The screen display management unit 301 controls a screen that displayson the operation unit 209. The user authentication unit 302 provides aUI for managing a list of users that can use the MFP 101 and for userauthentication. The user authentication unit 302 has a simple loginfunction. The simple login function is a function that causes an iconfor each user to display on the operation unit 209, and when a userpresses an icon for oneself, an operation screen (a post-login screen)customized for the user is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 6 describedlater. Note, in cases where a selected user sets a password (secretnumber), an input of the password is requested. In other words, a loginis permitted without requesting for an input of a password to users forwhom a password is not set. Accordingly, in the simple login functionaccording to the present embodiment, setting whether or not an input fora password is requested to the user regardless of whether or not a userpassword is set is made possible.

Also, an automatic registration function for automatically registering alogged in user is included in the simple login function. The automaticregistration function is a function that, when a job is inputted to theimage processing apparatus, automatically registers a user correspondingto a user ID included in the job as a logged in user of the simple loginfunction. Description regarding details of the automatic registrationfunction is given later using FIG. 9 to FIG. 11.

By virtue of the present embodiment, in cases where a user is newlyregistered by the automatic registration function, a user for whom apassword is not set is allowed to be newly registered even if thepassword (secret number) setting in the simple login function is turnedon. Then, when the new user logs in, a setting of a password isrequested to the user (step S505 of FIG. 5). Also, in cases where anadministrator newly registers a user, a user for whom a password is notset is allowed to be newly registered. Same as with the case of theautomatic registration function, a setting of a password is requested tothe user when the new user logs in for the first time. Meanwhile, incases where a user who is not the administrator performs a new userregistration manually, it is requested that a setting of a password alsobe performed together when the user registers. In this way, in thepresent invention, a method of registering a new user does not requiresetting of a password at a time of registration of a new user in a caseof registration by an administrator or automatic registration, butrequires setting of a password at a time of registration of a new userin a case of registration by a general user. In this way, it is possibleto store setting information for whether to force setting ofauthentication information in association with a type of a userregistration method.

The copy 310, the print 311, and the scan and transmit 312 are examplesof applications that are operated by the MFP 101. The copy 310 is anapplication for executing printing in accordance with image dataobtained by scanning an original. The print 311 is an application foraccepting and holding a print job inputted from the PC 102, displaying alist of jobs inputted by a logged-in user, allowing a user to confirmdetails thereof, and then printing. The scan and transmit 312 is anapplication for externally transmitting, by email or the like, an imageresulting from scanning by the scanner 211.

<User Table>

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, description is given regarding a usertable 400 managed by the user authentication unit 302. The user tableillustrated in FIG. 4 is an example, and there is no intent to limit thepresent invention.

In the user table 400 is defined, for each registered user, informationon a user ID (uid), secret number, password, authority, electronic mailaddress (email), and final login date/time. “uid” is a user name foruniquely identifying a user. “secret number” is a character stringconfigured from only numbers that is used when performing userauthentication when using the MFP 101 via the operation unit 209.“password” is a character string used to perform user authenticationwhen using the MFP 101 via a network. Note that the different termssecret number and password are used here, but they are substantially thesame, and are authentication information for performing userauthentication. Settings for operation of secret numbers/passwords ismanaged by a setting DB as illustrated by FIG. 7. “authority” isinformation for controlling whether to permit a function that can beoperated by a user. Information on “authority” is registered withadministrator or general. “email” indicates an electronic mail address.“final login date/time” indicates the date and time when thecorresponding user last logged in.

Note that, as illustrated in FIG. 4, for the user whose user ID is“suzuki”, a secret number is not set, and a final login date/time isblank because they have not logged in yet.

<User Authentication Processing Procedure>

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, description is given regarding a userauthentication processing procedure according to the present embodiment.Processing described below is realized by, for example, the CPU 201reading a control program stored in the ROM 202 or the HDD 204 into theRAM 203, and executing it.

In step S501, upon accepting a login request with respect to the MFP 101from a user, the screen display management unit 301 displays on theoperation unit 209 an authentication screen provided by the userauthentication unit 302. Note that this screen may be displayed on adisplay unit of the PC 102 when a user accesses the MFP 101 via the PC102 which is an external apparatus. FIG. 6 illustrates one example of anauthentication screen displayed on the operation unit 209 of the MFP 101according to the present embodiment. Buttons displaying user IDs ofusers managed by the user authentication unit 302 are selectablydisplayed on a user authentication screen 600. The user authenticationscreen 600 is generated based on information of the user table 400illustrated in FIG. 4. Consequently, buttons 601 to 603 corresponding touser IDs registered in the user table 400 are comprised and displayed.

Next, in step S502, the user authentication unit 302 accepts selectionof a user with respect to the buttons 601 to 603, via the userauthentication screen 600 displayed on the operation unit 209. When abutton is selected in step S502, the processing proceeds to step S503,and the user authentication unit 302 determines whether a secret numberis not yet set. Specifically, the user authentication unit 302determines that the secret number is not yet set if a secret number ofthe user corresponding to the selected button is not defined in the usertable 400. If the secret number is not yet set, the processing proceedsto step S504, and if it is set the processing proceeds to step S508.

In step S504, the user authentication unit 302 determines whether toforce setting of the secret number for the user whose secret number isnot yet set. Specifically, the user authentication unit 302 refers to asetting table 700 illustrated in FIG. 7 in order to determine whether toforce setting of the secret number. Values are set to a plurality ofsetting items 701 to 704 in the setting table 700. Whether to forcesetting of a secret number is set to a setting item 701. The settingitem 701 is setting information indicating whether to force setting ofauthentication information for a predetermined login method (forexample, a simple login function). Whether to permit usage of a defaultpassword is set to the setting item 702. A minimum number of charactersfor a password is set to the setting item 703. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 7, this is set to 8 characters. A valid period for apassword is set to the setting item 704. Note that these pieces ofsetting information can be made by an administrator, for example, and ascreen for accepting these settings may displayed on the operation unit209 in advance. This setting screen is not shown graphically, but may bea screen that allows whether to force setting of authenticationinformation (a secret number or a password) to be selected. In addition,it is desirable that these pieces of setting information be set inadvance as default values at a time of shipment from a factory of aproduct. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, this is set to 90 days.The user authentication unit 302 refers to the setting item 701 todetermine whether the setting for forcing setting of a secret number isset. In a case of forcing setting of a secret number the processingproceeds to step S505, and otherwise the processing proceeds to stepS507.

In step S507, the user authentication unit 302 determines whether it isan initial login. Specifically, if the final login date/time for theuser is not defined in the user table 400, the user authentication unit302 determines that this is an initial login and proceeds to step S505,and if a final login date/time is defined, the user authentication unit302 determines that this is not an initial login and proceeds to stepS508.

In step S505, the screen display management unit 301 displays a secretnumber setting screen on the operation unit 209. FIG. 8 illustrates asecret number setting screen 800 that is displayed on the operation unit209. The secret number setting screen 800 is configured by including asecret number input region 801, a cancel button 802, and an OK button803. A secret number is inputted to the secret number input region 801in accordance with a user input via a hardware key (not shown), or thelike. When the cancel button 802 is operated in a state where a secretnumber is inputted to the secret number input region 801, the secretnumber is not registered and the screen of the operation unit 209returns to the screen displayed before displaying the secret numbersetting screen 800. In contrast, when the OK button 803 is operated in astate where a secret number is inputted to the secret number inputregion 801, the inputted secret number is finalized. According to thepresent embodiment, at a time of an initial login or the like, in stepS505 the secret number setting screen 800 is displayed and setting of asecret number (password) is requested. Consequently, even in a casewhere setting of a secret number or the like at a time of userregistration by a registration agent in automatic registration in thesimple login function described below is omitted, it is possible torequest setting of the secret number or the like at a time of asubsequent login (step S505).

The description of FIG. 5 is returned to. In step S506, the userauthentication unit 302 saves the secret number accepted via the secretnumber setting screen 800 to the user table 400, and advances theprocessing to step S508. Note that, in a case of transitioning to stepS508 after determining that this is not an initial login in step S507,input of a secret number is not requested in login processing. Such acase is where a secret number was not set in an initial login, and inputof a secret number or a password is not requested at a time of asubsequent login. Note that the present invention is not limited to suchcontrol, and may perform control so as to prohibit not setting a secretnumber or the like at a time of an initial login.

Note that, in a case of forcing setting of a secret number (password),control may be performed so that the “OK” button 803 cannot be selectedin a state where a secret number is not inputted in the secret numberinput region 801 in the secret number setting screen 800.

Finally, in step S508, the user authentication unit 302 executes loginprocessing in accordance with the set secret number, and the processingends. During the login processing, the user authentication unit 302requests the user to input authentication information such as a secretnumber that is set. Note that, the present embodiment, the processingbranches after determines whether there is an initial login in a case ofnot forcing setting of a secret number (step S507), but the presentinvention is not limited to this. For example, in a case of not forcinga secret number to be set, settings and controls so as to proceed to thelogin processing of step S508 in the present state may be provided. Insuch a case, the user authentication unit 302 does not request input ofa secret number (password) during login processing. In addition,configuration may be taken so that, during the login processing, theuser authentication unit 302 controls so as to not permit login of auser if a secret number is not set, irrespective of the setting of asecret number or the like being necessary. Note that such control may bechanged in accordance with setting information.

<User Registration at Time of Print Job Input>

Next, with reference to FIG. 9 through FIG. 11, description is givenregarding user registration at a time of a print job input, according tothe present embodiment. The user authentication unit 302 provides aplurality of methods as methods for user registration. For example, theuser authentication unit 302 provides a function for performing userregistration via an interface displayed by the operation unit 209 or aninterface provided via the Web (input from operation unit UI/Web UI). Inaddition, as functions included in a simple login function, the userauthentication unit 302 provides a function for performing userregistration in accordance with importing user data, or a function forusing user information included in a print job accepted from an externalapparatus such as the PC 102 to automatically perform registration.

Description is given in detail below regarding a processing procedureand control of an automatic registration function in the simple loginfunction. By virtue of the present embodiment, it is possible to causean agent capable of registration to differ for each registration method.For example, all users can register themselves in accordance with “inputfrom an operation unit UI/Web UI”. In addition, a user having an“administrator” authority can register a user in accordance with “inputfrom an operation unit UI/Web UI” and “importing user data”. “Automaticregistration using user information included in a print job” isregistration that is automatically performed by the user authenticationunit 302 and not by a user explicitly performing a registrationoperation. Note that a registration procedure for a time of a print jobinput is described later using FIG. 11.

Here, with reference to FIG. 9, description is given regarding“automatic registration using user information included in a print job”.A print job inputted to the MFP 101 from the PC 102 is provided withinput user information. The print 311 that receives the print jobconveys the input user information to the user authentication unit 302before processing the held print job. The user authentication unit 302registers a user by taking the received input user information as a userID. A check for items (required items) that are not allowed to overlapwith other users (for example, a user ID) is performed at the time ofuser registration.

In the setting table 700 illustrated in FIG. 7, in the case whereforcing setting of a secret number is set, the secret number is arequired item. However, the secret number is something that should beset by the actual user. Accordingly, according to the presentembodiment, the user authentication unit 302 controls whether to have itbe necessary to add a secret number at a time of a registrationoperation for each registration agent, in accordance with a table 1000illustrated by FIG. 10. As illustrated in FIG. 10, types of registrationagents include “administrator”, “general user”, and “system”. In FIG.10, there is a setting for permitting automatic registration withoutsetting a secret number in the case where the registration agent is“administrator” or “system”, and automatic registration is prohibitedwhen the registration agent is a “general user”. Note that thesesettings can be made by an administrator, for example, and a screen foraccepting these settings is displayed on the operation unit 209 inadvance.

With reference to FIG. 11, description is given regarding a processingprocedure for automatic registration for the simple login function at atime of receipt of a print job in the present embodiment. Processingdescribed below is realized by, for example, the CPU 201 reading acontrol program stored in the ROM 202 or the HDD 204 into the RAM 203,and executing it.

In step S1101, the user authentication unit 302 accepts a request toregister a user. Next, in step S1102, the user authentication unit 302determines whether the registration agent needs to set a secret number.For example, the user authentication unit 302 refers to the authority ofthe user, the setting table 700, and the table 1000 to determine whetherthe user is a user for which setting of a secret number is required. Ifsetting of a secret number is not necessary (when the registration agentis “administrator” or “system”) the processing proceeds to step S1103,and if setting of a secret number is necessary (when the registrationagent is a “general user”), the processing proceeds to step S1104.

In step S1103, the user authentication unit 302, without setting asecret number, uses the user information included in the print job toautomatically register the user in the user table 400 as a newlyregistered user, and the processing ends. Meanwhile, in step S1104, theuser authentication unit 302 executes error processing withoutregistering the user, and the processing ends. In the error processing,that user registration corresponding to the user information included inthe print job cannot be performed may be notified to the PC 102.

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to thepresent embodiment stores setting information for whether to forcesetting of authentication information for each user. Furthermore, uponaccepting a login request from a user, in a case where the storedsetting information indicates forcing setting of authenticationinformation, the image processing apparatus displays on a display unit asetting screen for setting authentication information to allow the userto set authentication information. In addition, the image processingapparatus executes login processing in accordance with a setting statusof authentication information for the user. Furthermore, in a case ofperforming automatic registration for a simple login function when aprint job is received, the image processing apparatus controls whetherto automatically register a user in accordance with the authority of auser who is a registration agent. In this way, by virtue of the presentembodiment, it is possible to improve security and reduce a useroperation related to authentication by suitably requesting setting ofauthentication information in accordance with a setting status of theauthentication information in user authentication. In addition, byvirtue of the present embodiment, forcing all users to setauthentication information even in the case of a simple login functioncan be set.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus comprising: a memory devicethat stores a set of instructions; and at least one processor configuredto function as: a login unit configured to display a plurality of iconsfor login for each registered user, and accept a login request for acorresponding user in accordance with an icon being selected, whereinthe user can log in to the printing apparatus by the login request; anauthentication information request unit configured to, upon acceptingthe login request, display on a display unit an inputting screen forinputting authentication information to allow the user to input theauthentication information; and a register unit configured to, uponaccepting a print job from an external apparatus for performing printingin the printing apparatus, automatically register the user in accordancewith user information included in the print job, wherein the print jobdoes not include the authentication information, and wherein theregister unit automatically registers the user without requesting inputof the authentication information even if it is set to request input ofthe authentication information, and then requests input of theauthentication information when the user logs in and registers theinputted authentication information.
 2. The printing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the register unit controls whether to register theuser in accordance with an authority of the user.
 3. The printingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one processorconfigured to further function as: a storage unit configured to storeinformation on whether to permit automatic registration for each userauthority, and wherein the register unit further, for the authority ofthe user, in a case where the information stored in the storage unitindicates permitting the automatic registration, automatically registersthe user, and otherwise does not automatically register the user.
 4. Theprinting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the authority of theuser is get in accordance with a user type.
 5. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the authentication information requestunit requests input of the authentication information in the loginprocessing for a user for which the authentication information is set.6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theauthentication information request unit does not request input of theauthentication information in the login processing for a user for whichthe authentication information is not set.
 7. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to function as a setting unit configured to set whether toforce setting of authentication information in association with a typeof a user registration method.
 8. A method of controlling a printingapparatus, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of icons forlogin for each registered user, accepting a login request for acorresponding user in accordance with an icon being selected, whereinthe user can log in to the printing apparatus by the login request; uponaccepting the login request, displaying on a display unit an inputtingscreen for inputting authentication information to allow the user toinput the authentication information; and upon accepting a print jobfrom an external apparatus for performing printing in the printingapparatus, automatically registering the user in accordance with userinformation included in the print job, wherein the print job does notinclude the authentication information, and wherein the automaticallyregistering the user in accordance with user information included in theprint job includes automatically registering the user without requestinginput of the authentication information even if it is set to requestinput of the authentication information, and then requesting input ofthe authentication information when the user logs in, and registeringthe inputted authentication information.
 9. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causinga computer to execute each step in a method of controlling a printingapparatus, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of icons forlogin for each registered user, accepting a login request for acorresponding user in accordance with an icon being selected, whereinthe user can log in to the printing apparatus by the login request; uponaccepting the login request, displaying on a display unit an inputtingscreen for inputting authentication information to allow the user toinput the authentication information; and upon accepting a print jobfrom an external apparatus for performing printing in the printingapparatus, automatically registering the user in accordance with userinformation included in the print job, wherein the print job does notinclude the authentication information, and wherein the automaticallyregistering the user in accordance with user information included in theprint job includes automatically registering the user without requestinginput of the authentication information even if it is set to requestinput of the authentication information, and then requesting input ofthe authentication information when the user logs in, and registeringthe inputted authentication information.